Rose Ocken, 88 of Carroll, died Monday, April 27, 2020 at St. Anthony Nursing Home in Carroll.
Per the family’s request, Private Family Funeral Service will be held at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll on Friday, May 1, 2020. Fr. Kevin Richter of St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll will preside. Casket Bearers will be Rose’s family. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Carroll.
A Live Stream Broadcast and recording of Rose’s service can be found by visiting the Sharp Funeral Home Carroll, Iowa YouTube Channel at this link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqd2eeRJk5RTdEJoEooUoAQ. An Icon on that page will be available by 10:55 a.m. Friday.
Those wishing to mail their memorial may direct it to: Rose Ocken Family c/o Sharp Funeral Home, 226 W. 8th Street, Carroll, IA 51401.
Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll, and online condolences may be left for the Ocken family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Born on November 16, 1931 at her family farm near Carroll, Rose was sixth of twelve children born to Herman and Genevieve (Gross) Gehling. She attended Sts. Peter and Paul School through the 8th grade and then stayed home with her widowed mother to help with chores, cooking, baking and raising her younger siblings.
On February 19, 1952 Rose was united in marriage to Wilfred J. Ocken at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Carroll by Fr. Frank Greteman. Together they raised three daughters, Diane, Marilyn, and Jolene. Wilfred passed away on April 5, 2011.
For many years Rose was a homemaker, an avid seamstress, baker, and cook. As her daughters went off to school, she went to work at the Carroll Manor and later General Electric for 16 years until her retirement in 1992. During retirement, Rose volunteered at RSVP, Carroll Chamber, and St. Anthony Nursing Home. For many years she made Baptismal bibs for Holy Spirit Church. She enjoyed many trips, birthday parties, and getting together with former GE friends. Most of all Rose loved spending time with her family. In April of 2017, she entered St. Anthony Nursing Home where she resided until her death.
Rose is survived by her daughters: Diane (Allen) Vonnahme of Arcadia, Marilyn Schaefer of Carroll, and Jolene (Gary) Riesselman of Halbur; her grandchildren: Jason (Stacey) Vonnahme, Eric (Brenda) Vonnahme, Julie (Nate) Podey, Brian Schaefer and friend Kimmy, Adam (Carri) Schaefer, Alissa (Adam) Roth, Nick (Michelle) Riesselman, and Austin (Tori) Riesselman; her great-grandchildren: Nate, Carter, Collin, Tyler, and Kody Vonnahme, Jada and Jayden Podey, Kenedy, Shelby, Destiny, Evan, Macy and Ryder Schaefer, Mya and Ellie Roth, and Jack, Jordan, Tinley, and Aries Riesselman; her sister, Sister Joann Gehling FSPA of Hiawatha; her brother, Jerry (Kathy) Gehling of Phoenix, AZ; her sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: JoAnn Gehling, Linda Gehling, Bonnie Rasmussen, Delores Nagl, Paul Sailer, Frank (Ann) Ocken and Charlotte Ocken.
Rose was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Wilfred; her son-in-law, Steve Schaefer in 2015; her parents-in-law, Frank and Catherine Ocken; her sisters: Rita Anstoeter, Louise Schmitz, Norma Rasmussen, and; her brothers: George, Vernon, Edward, Robert, James, and Carl Gehling.
